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Sudan Gold Mine Collapse Kills 82, Dozens Still Missing — AI-generated representative image: Rescue workers search a collapsed informal gold mine site in Sudan's West Kordofan state.

Editorial Team

Rescue operations continue at an informal mine in West Kordofan as the death toll may rise

At least 82 people have been killed after an informal gold mine collapsed in Sudan's West Kordofan state, with dozens more still missing, according to local officials cited by several news agencies.

Rescue efforts are continuing at the al-Zara mine near the town of Nuhud, an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The collapse began in one shaft on Sunday and spread through interconnected tunnels.

The disaster highlights the dangerous conditions faced by workers in Sudan's unregulated mining sector, which operates with minimal safety oversight in conflict-affected areas. Gold remains one of the country's most valuable exports, with informal mining providing income for many communities despite the risks.

Rescue and Recovery Efforts

Rescuers recovered 82 bodies by Wednesday afternoon, Suleiman Abu Hmeida, a member of Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms, told AP. "But dozens remain unaccounted for," he said. A local administration official separately confirmed the same death toll.

The Sudan Doctors Network earlier reported 67 recovered bodies and said the death toll could rise as the search continues. The medical group said the informal mine employed unregulated workers and lacked basic safety and protective measures.

Sudan's Gold Sector and Conflict

The Emergency Response Rooms is a grassroots network that provides assistance to communities and monitors developments during Sudan's ongoing conflict. The Kordofan Observatory monitoring group said the mining area extends for more than a kilometer over fragile sandy soil.

Gold is one of Sudan's most valuable commodities, with official figures showing gold exports generating more than $1.5 billion in the first ten months of 2024, despite the ongoing conflict. The country produced 70 tons of gold in 2025, according to figures from the state-owned Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC).

Safety Concerns and Official Statements

The Sudan Doctors Network emphasized that mining in RSF-controlled areas poses a direct threat to civilian lives. "The Network emphasizes that mining activities in areas under RSF control, in the absence of safety standards and adequate protection and rescue equipment, turn mining into a direct threat to the lives of civilians," the group said.

Deadly mine collapses have occurred elsewhere in Africa. In August, more than 100 people were reported killed when an artisanal gold mine collapsed in Zamboye in the Central African Republic, near the border with Cameroon, after several underground tunnels caved in while miners were working below ground.

What Lies Ahead

Search and recovery operations remain ongoing at the al-Zara mine, with authorities yet to confirm the final number of casualties. Dozens of workers remain unaccounted for, and the death toll could rise as rescuers continue to access the collapsed tunnels.